{{Short description|Neighbourhood of Bangkok, Thailand}} {{about|the Bangkok neighbourhood|the ''tambon'' (sub-district) in Saraburi Province|Ban Khrua, Saraburi}} {{travelguide|date=January 2019}} {{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 250 | align =right | image1 = Ban Khrua Nuea IMG 7293 silk workers moslem quarters.jpg | alt1 = | caption1 = The Ban Khrua Nuea neighbourhood (along the Khlong Saen Saep) | image2 = Ban Khrua Nuea IMG 7085 silk workers moslem quarters.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Ban Khrua Nuea }} '''Ban Khrua''' ({{langx|th|บ้านครัว}}, {{IPA|th|bâːn kʰrūa̯|pron}}; other spellings include ''Ban Krua'' and ''Baan Krua'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://donmueangairportthai.com/th/popular-destinations/485/%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD|title=ชุมชนบ้านครัวเหนือ|date=2015-07-16|work=Don Mueang International Airport|language=thai|access-date=2018-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318054526/http://donmueangairportthai.com/th/popular-destinations/485/%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD|archive-date=2018-03-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a historic community neighborhood along Bangkok's Khlong Saen Saep from Saphan Hua Chang to Wat Phrayayang. It includes an area of about 14 rai (about 5.5 acres) on both banks of the canal.<ref name=Baan/> It's divided into three parts: ''Ban Khrua Nuea'' (บ้านครัวเหนือ; 'North Ban Khrua'); ''Ban Khrua Tai'' (บ้านครัวใต้; 'South Ban Khrua') in Ratchathewi District; and ''Ban Khrua Tawan Tok'' (บ้านครัวตะวันตก; 'West Ban Khrua') in Pathum Wan District. The main artery is Ban Khrua Nuea in Soi Kasem San 3, Rama I Road, the boundary between Ratchathewi and Pathum Wan Districts.<ref name=Ban/>
==History== The community dates back to the reign of King Rama I, who granted the land to Islamic Cham troops after they had fought with the Siamese Army in the ''Songkhram Kao Thap'', the Burmese–Siamese War in 1785–1786, the last major battle fought against Burmese invaders.<ref name=Ban/><ref name=dr>{{cite web|url=http://www.komchadluek.net/news/local/107134|work=Kom Chad Luek|first=Dr. Anek |last=Laothamatas|language=Thai|date=2011-08-24|title=ชุมชนบ้านครัว: พันเรื่องถิ่นแผ่นดินไทย}}</ref> The Cham had migrated from the Champa realm (currently in central and southern Vietnam) during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Ban Khrua is the oldest Islamic community in Bangkok.<ref name=Baan/>
Khlong Saen Saep was dug during the reign of King Rama III as the main supply route for troops fighting in what is now Cambodia and part of southern Vietnam in the 14 year-long Siamese-Vietnamese wars. It runs from Bangkok to the Bang Pakong River in eastern Chachoengsao Province.<ref name="BP-20190103">{{cite news |last1=Mekloy |first1=Pongpet |title=A hidden gem in Bangkok's heart |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/in-thailand/1604506/a-hidden-gem-in-bangkoks-heart |accessdate=2019-01-03 |work=Bangkok Post |date=2019-01-03}}</ref>
Years ago, silk fabric was a well-known product of the community and a major source of income for most households. The community served as a factory for the American businessman Jim Thompson whose home, now a museum called the Jim Thompson House, is nearby on the south bank of the canal.<ref name="BP-20190103" /> Thai silk became highly prized, and was used as for costuming in the Broadway musical ''The King and I'' in 1951 and Hollywood film ''Ben-Hur'' in 1959. Ban Khrua became a centre of the silk industry in Thailand.<ref name=Jim/>
The Disappearance of Jim Thompson in 1967 marked the peak of silk production in Ban Khrua.<ref name=Jim>{{cite web|url=http://info.gotomanager.com/news/details.aspx?id=1226|title=จิม ทอมป์สัน ยุคใหม่ ยุคธุรกิจ "ครบวงจร"|date=September 1999|language=Thai|work=Manager Magazine|access-date=2018-03-17|archive-date=2018-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317164922/http://info.gotomanager.com/news/details.aspx?id=1226|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Three mosques remain in the community.<ref name=dr/> Silk production continues in a few workshops, where traditional production methods survive.<ref name=Ban>{{cite web|url=https://www.manager.co.th/Travel/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000082973|author=หนุ่มลูกทุ่ง|date=2006-07-26|language=thai|title=เที่ยว "บ้านครัว" ชมชุมชนทอผ้ากลางกรุง|work=Manager Daily|access-date=2018-03-17|archive-date=2018-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317231957/https://www.manager.co.th/Travel/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000082973|url-status=dead}}</ref> Adding to the cost of progress, Ban Khrua residents have been at odds with the government for more than 25 years as they fight to keep their community from being razed for a proposed tollway.<ref name=Baan>{{cite web|url=https://www.matichon.co.th/news/840424|title=บุกกองอาสาจาม 'บ้านแขกครัว' มุสลิมบางกอก เสน่ห์ชุมชนเก่าที่ยังมีลมหายใจ|date=2018-02-13|language=thai|work=Matichon|first=พนิดา|last= สงวนเสรีวานิช}}</ref>
==Of note nearby== *Chaloem La 56 Bridge or Saphan Hua Chang (Elephant's Head Bridge) *Siam Square *Sa Pathum Palace *Ratchaprasong Shopping Center *Erawan Shrine *Pratunam Market
==See also== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Thai silk * History of Bangkok * Islam in Thailand * Siamese-Vietnamese War (1831–1834) * Siamese–Vietnamese War (1841–1845) }}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/attractions/baan-khrua/a/poi-sig/408056/357640 Baan Khrua] from Lonely Planet *[https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Baan-Krua-Nhua-community--6327 BAAN KRUA NHUA COMMUNITY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317165123/https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Baan-Krua-Nhua-community--6327 |date=2018-03-17 }} from Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
{{coord|13|44|58.89|N|100|31|39.28|E|display=title}} {{Pathum Wan District}} Category:Neighbourhoods of Bangkok Category:Ratchathewi district Category:Pathum Wan district category:Tourist attractions in Bangkok category:Islam in Thailand category:Historic districts in Thailand